"Outside the Old Boxes" or "I Was An Ikea Virgin"

Bean Up The Nose Art is happy to report that, since our alliance in December with our fabulous sales reps at The French Artist Club, we're growing.  YAY!!  In fact, twelve new stores in Seattle and Portland came on board last week.  DOUBLE YAY!!!  (More about that later this week.)

This means a lot of things.  Lots of good things.  But also . . . that growth requires us to step up our games.  To change.  To be brave.  To think outside the old box.  In fact, to get BRAND NEW BOXES.  Figuratively, and literally.

Which required a trip to Ikea.

My first.

Not because I was morally opposed to Ikea, or anything like that.  Nope.  I was AFRAID of Ikea.  Afraid that I would be lost and overwhelmed.  So, I just stayed away.

But that was the old me.

So, I got help.  A guide.  In the form of fabulous trusty daughter Meryl Rose.  And when we got inside, I saw Ikea provided a written guide.

That was good.  I was feeling better.  And then, I saw their play center for kids to stay while parents shopped.  Wow!  I liked Ikea even better.  So smart and savvy.  And where were these kinds of places when my own kids were little?

But wait!  It got BETTER!!  They have FOOD THERE, too!!!  

So, we fueled up for our big shopping job.  And then found the clearly-marked bathrooms.  Which get highlighted here because now the female symbol is done right:  with two legs.  Do you remember when she first appeared on the scene?  She had an upside-down triangle for legs, below her triangle dress.  Which prompted fabulous daughter Meryl Rose rightly to ask as a four-year-old, "Why does the woman only have one leg, and the man has two?"

We were ready to go.  THEY PROVIDE LISTS AND PENCILS.  Holy moly.  I was loving this place.  Why so fearful before?

And even ARROWS TELLING YOU WHERE TO GO!!!!  I need never have feared I would be overwhelmed.  It was easy. 

Feeling relaxed and happy and full of bacon, we started getting silly with our photo shooting.

And I was particularly stunned by this idea:  got a 235 square foot space?  

Well, here's your home!  And I gotta say, as my own larger home is getting full of cards and boxes and paper work and art supplies . . . . something about this cozy, streamlined space called mightily to me.

Soon, our mission was accomplished:  find inexpensive but wonderful boxes in which to organize and store the greeting cards.  Easily.  For fast access and fulfillment.

Voila!

We decided to go with white instead of orange.  To foster a Zen-like calm during order fulfillment.  (Well, that's the goal . . . .)  And here the little cute boxes are, all stacked up in a storage area . . . which would not work in at 235 square foot house.  

Thank you, Meryl Rose-y, for helping me brave Ikea and for figuring out the new storage system in the first place.  The crazier things get, the more and more I love your back-up brain.  Couldn't do this next phase without you!  I KNEW you were a smart and observant, hip and happening child from the time you questioned the signs on the bathroom door.  

And thanks to everyone whose kindness and enthusiasm (and buying power) help make this business grow.  It's lucky and wonderful and I am so touched.  THANK YOU!!!  I wish you much love and luck in getting your own new boxes in your life, whatever they may be!